Have Blue's 3D-printed converted AR-15.
(Source: Defense Distributed)
Posted on 12/14/2012 7:24:22 PM PST by null and void
At-home 3D printing is on the rise, and what was once just a lofty promise is now a reality. More and more hobbyists are acquiring affordable printers, such as the Makerbot Replicator 2 and the RapMan Universal 3D (single/dual head) printer, to manufacture just about everything from toys to working clocks.
Some hobbyists have used these printers for fast-prototyping items that are controversial -- or even deadly. It comes as no surprise that some would attempt to replicate weapons systems (or at least parts of them) in an effort to create a fully functional gun. It's not exactly clear who was the first to fabricate a firearm using a 3D printer, but one example that has garnered global attention is "Have Blue," who designed an AR-15 lower receiver (converted to fire .22 ammunition), using a CAD file in the SolidWorks file format that is openly available from CNC Gunsmithing.
After a few modifications to the original file, he set to work fabricating the receiver using around $30 of ABS filament fed through his Stratasys printer. After prototyping a small-scale model, he fabricated the full-size receiver and used it to fire 200 rounds without catastrophic failure. The proof of concept of manufacturing a 3D-printed weapon was a complete success. Now the door is open for others to try their hand at the home weapons manufacturing business.
A group of hobbyists (most of them college students) have banded together to form a company known as Defense Distributed to expand on the 3D-printed weapons systems and provide open-source software to anyone who wants it. Defense Distributed began its quest with the Wiki Weapon Project, which aims to provide all the necessary CAD software for manufacturing plastic firearms using any 3D printer. The group expanded on Have Blue's AR-15 to prove the concept of building weapons with a printer. However, instead of testing Have Blue's .22 conversion build, the group went ahead with an AR-15 conversion in 5.7x28FN, which has more firepower than a .22 but provides less pressure than the standard .223 round.
The group printed the lower receiver using Objet ABS-like filament piped through a Connex 3D printer. The printed rifle fired six shots before breaking. Apparently, the receiver's threads couldn't handle the pressure and snapped at the buffer-tube connection. The group is now looking for funding and a federal firearms license to get its project off the ground.
The problems with 3D-printed firearms aren't limited to catastrophic failure. (It takes only one bullet to kill.) There is also the issue of legality. No federal laws address manufacturing weapons with 3D printers, so anyone owning a printer could make a weapon -- even if they're not allowed to own one. The ATF considers the rifle's lower receiver as the firearm; anyone can purchase the upper receiver, barrel, etc.
The 1988 Undetectable Firearms Act prohibits the manufacturing or possession of guns that can't be picked up by airport metal detectors. This creates a loophole for hobbyists. Firearms typically require metal parts (barrel, springs, bolt, etc.) to function, and those parts can be detected. However, some companies don't want to take any chances. Defense Distributed's first attempt at funding in September through Indiegogo ended in disaster; Indiegogo froze DD's account and sent the $20,000 it raised back to the backers. In October, Stratasys terminated the group's 3D printer lease and seized the equipment from a member's home.
Like it or not, the seed of printing weapons has been planted, and the idea is sure to gain momentum through hobbyists in the near future -- until federal laws are enacted to gain control over the issue. It's only a matter of time before a printed weapon is used in a crime. Then all hell will break loose.
can we let that one be our little secret, mmmmkay?
Might need to be drilled out after firing.
I support you in whatever the heck we’re doing now!
The culinary student, the physics student, or the rifle?
Because I've fired all three, and only drilled one.
/johnny
/johnny
I bet one could be formulated that would fire up just fine in a self-cleaning oven.
We used to be able to see how many comments other people had made, didn’t we. I wish that function still existed; trolls were easier to catch that way.
great thread for 1000, nully!!
Congratulations on your 1,000th thread.
And on this fascinating 3-D printing technology, too.
this is a race I hope we win
Ultimately we will.
We have them vastly outnumbered...
and that is what I hang my optimism on
Congrats on the milestone. The 110110 posts number kind of creeps me out, though. I't's like 122112 or something. For some reason, now I can't shake off this vague sense of impending doom. . .
Nice thread choice, btw.
Laser-sintered powdered metal. Fuse with laser, drop 1 layer height, rake more powder over area, repeat until complete...
They already do this for high-level 3D manufacturing, it’s just not affordable at the home/hobbyist level.
Yet. I give it 2-3 years, max, and there will be at least a hobbyist-level laser-sintered 3D printer. For under $5K . . .or at least the equivalent of what $5K buys now (I expect hyperinflation to hit in a year or three. . . )
This one would be 110,111 replies.
Self-cleans get up to about 800F. Something more like a hobbyist ceramic kiln, that gets glowing hot inside, would be appropriate.
If it helps, I slowed down my commenting rate the past few days to make that possible.
...after I blew it on trying to get my 1000th thread to coincide with my 110,000th reply.
Congrats Nully. You’re a long time loyal FReeper!
There are glasses and binders that would melt and fuse at that temperature.
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